INTEGRATING BUDDHIST PRINCIPLES FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AMONG LOCAL POLITICIANS IN CHIANG KHAN SUB-DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION CHIANG KHAN DISTRICT, LOEI PROVINCE

Abstract

Objectives of this research article were: 1. To study the level of community development of local politicians in the Chiang Khan Sub-District Administrative Organization, Chiang Khan District, Loei Province; 2. To compare the roles of local politicians in community development in the Chiang Khan Sub-District Administrative Organization; and 3. To present the integration of the Sangahavatthu 4 principles for community development of local politicians in the Chiang Khan Sub-District Administrative Organization. This study employed a mixed-methods approach. The quantitative research used a questionnaire with a sample group of 354 eligible voters in the Chiang Khan Sub-District Administrative Organization. The qualitative research used interviews with 10 key informants, including religious leaders, government officials, executives and council members of the Sub-District Administrative Organization, local leaders, and citizens. The data were analyzed using descriptive content interpretation.

The research results revealed that: 1. The overall level of community development of local politicians in the Chiang Khan Sub-District Administrative Organization was rated high in all aspects (=3.50, S.D.=0.31). The highest mean score was in infrastructure development (=3.80, S.D.= 0.50), followed by religion, arts, culture, traditions, and local wisdom; community order, society, and public safety; and promotion of quality of life, respectively. 2. The comparison of community development roles of local politicians in the Chiang Khan Sub-District Administrative Organization based on personal factors showed no significant differences in opinions among citizens of different gender, age, education, and occupation. Therefore, the set research hypothesis was rejected at the 0.05 statistical significance level. 3. The Buddhist principles, Sangahavatthu 4, integration for community development of local politicians showed that overall, the public rated it at the highest level in all aspects (=4.37, S.D.=0.62). Specifically, Atthacariya, right conduct, had the highest mean score (=4.46, S.D.=0.62), followed by Dana, generosity, Samanattata, consistency, and Piyavaca, kind speech, respectively.